Baked French toast is a delightful breakfast dish that combines the rich flavors of eggs, milk, and spices with the comforting texture of french bread. This recipe is perfect for a weekend brunch or a special occasion, offering a warm and satisfying start to your day. The addition of a brown sugar and pecan topping adds a delightful crunch and sweetness that elevates this dish to a whole new level.
Some ingredients in this recipe might not be commonly found in every household. Heavy cream is richer than regular cream and adds a luxurious texture to the dish. Pecans provide a nutty crunch, and nutmeg adds a warm, spicy note. Make sure to pick these up at the supermarket if you don't already have them in your pantry.

Ingredients For Baked French Toast Recipe
French bread: A loaf of french bread provides the base for this dish, offering a sturdy texture that soaks up the custard mixture beautifully.
Eggs: Eggs are essential for creating the custard that binds the dish together.
Milk: Milk adds moisture and richness to the custard mixture.
Heavy cream: Heavy cream adds a luxurious, creamy texture to the dish.
Granulated sugar: Granulated sugar sweetens the custard mixture.
Vanilla extract: Vanilla extract adds a warm, aromatic flavor to the dish.
Ground cinnamon: Ground cinnamon provides a warm, spicy note.
Ground nutmeg: Ground nutmeg adds a subtle, earthy spice.
Salt: Salt enhances the flavors of the other ingredients.
Brown sugar: Brown sugar adds a caramel-like sweetness and forms a crunchy topping.
Pecans: Pecans provide a nutty crunch to the topping.
Unsalted butter: Unsalted butter adds richness and helps bind the topping together.
Technique Tip for This Recipe
When preparing the custard mixture for your baked French toast, ensure that you whisk the eggs thoroughly to incorporate as much air as possible. This will help create a lighter, fluffier texture. Additionally, when pouring the egg mixture over the bread slices, make sure to press down gently on the bread to help it absorb the mixture more evenly. This will result in a more uniform and flavorful dish.
Suggested Side Dishes
Alternative Ingredients
french bread - Substitute with brioche: Brioche is rich and buttery, making it an excellent alternative for a more decadent french toast.
french bread - Substitute with challah: Challah is slightly sweet and has a soft texture, which works well in baked french toast.
large eggs - Substitute with flax eggs: Mix 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed with 3 tablespoons of water per egg. This is a good vegan alternative.
milk - Substitute with almond milk: Almond milk is a dairy-free option that still provides a creamy texture.
heavy cream - Substitute with coconut cream: Coconut cream is a rich, dairy-free alternative that adds a subtle coconut flavor.
granulated sugar - Substitute with maple syrup: Maple syrup adds a natural sweetness and a hint of maple flavor.
vanilla extract - Substitute with almond extract: Almond extract provides a different but complementary flavor profile.
ground cinnamon - Substitute with pumpkin pie spice: Pumpkin pie spice includes cinnamon along with other spices, adding a more complex flavor.
ground nutmeg - Substitute with allspice: Allspice has a similar warm, spicy flavor that can replace nutmeg.
salt - Substitute with sea salt: Sea salt can be used in the same quantity and provides a slightly different mineral taste.
brown sugar - Substitute with coconut sugar: Coconut sugar has a similar sweetness and a slight caramel flavor.
chopped pecans - Substitute with chopped walnuts: Walnuts provide a similar crunch and nutty flavor.
unsalted butter - Substitute with ghee: Ghee has a rich, buttery flavor and is lactose-free.
Other Alternative Recipes Similar to This
How To Store / Freeze This Dish
Allow the baked French toast to cool completely at room temperature before storing. This helps prevent condensation, which can make the bread soggy.
Transfer the cooled French toast to an airtight container or wrap it tightly with plastic wrap. Ensure there are no gaps to keep it fresh.
For short-term storage, place the container in the refrigerator. The baked French toast will stay fresh for up to 3-4 days.
If you plan to store it for a longer period, consider freezing. Wrap each slice individually with plastic wrap and then place them in a freezer-safe bag or container. This method prevents the slices from sticking together and makes it easier to reheat individual portions.
Label the container or bag with the date to keep track of its freshness. Baked French toast can be frozen for up to 2-3 months.
When ready to enjoy, thaw the French toast slices in the refrigerator overnight. This gradual thawing helps maintain the texture and flavor.
To reheat, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the thawed slices on a baking sheet and cover them loosely with aluminum foil to prevent drying out. Heat for about 10-15 minutes or until warmed through.
Alternatively, you can reheat individual slices in the microwave. Place a slice on a microwave-safe plate and cover it with a damp paper towel. Microwave on medium power for 1-2 minutes, checking frequently to avoid overcooking.
For a crispy texture, consider reheating the French toast slices in a toaster oven. Set the toaster oven to medium heat and toast for 5-7 minutes or until the edges are crispy and the center is heated through.
Serve the reheated baked French toast with your favorite toppings such as maple syrup, fresh berries, or a dusting of powdered sugar. Enjoy the delicious flavors as if it were freshly baked!
How To Reheat Leftovers
Oven Method:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Place the leftover baked French toast in an oven-safe dish.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil to prevent it from drying out.
- Heat for about 15-20 minutes, or until warmed through.
- Remove the foil for the last 5 minutes if you want a crispy top.
Microwave Method:
- Place a portion of the baked French toast on a microwave-safe plate.
- Cover it with a damp paper towel to retain moisture.
- Microwave on medium power for 1-2 minutes, checking halfway through.
- If not heated through, continue in 30-second intervals until warm.
Stovetop Method:
- Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat.
- Add a small amount of butter or oil to the skillet.
- Place the baked French toast slices in the skillet.
- Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side, or until heated through and slightly crispy.
Air Fryer Method:
- Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C).
- Place the baked French toast slices in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
- Heat for 5-7 minutes, or until warmed through and crispy on the edges.
Essential Tools for This Recipe
Oven: To bake the French toast at the specified temperature of 350°F (175°C).
Baking dish: To arrange the sliced French bread and hold the egg mixture.
Knife: To slice the French bread into 1-inch thick slices.
Cutting board: To provide a stable surface for slicing the bread.
Large bowl: To whisk together the eggs, milk, heavy cream, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
Whisk: To mix the egg mixture thoroughly.
Small bowl: To mix together the brown sugar, chopped pecans, and melted butter.
Measuring cups: To measure the milk, heavy cream, granulated sugar, and brown sugar accurately.
Measuring spoons: To measure the vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt accurately.
Refrigerator: To chill the baking dish with the soaked bread for at least 2 hours or overnight.
Aluminum foil or plastic wrap: To cover the baking dish while it is in the refrigerator.
Spatula: To help serve the baked French toast once it is done.
Cooling rack: To let the baked French toast cool for a few minutes before serving.
How to Save Time on This Recipe
Prepare in advance: Mix the egg mixture the night before and refrigerate. This allows the bread to soak up the flavors overnight.
Use pre-sliced bread: Buy pre-sliced french bread to save time on slicing.
Quick topping: Prepare the brown sugar and pecan topping while the bread is soaking to streamline the process.
Efficient baking: Use a larger baking dish to spread the bread slices evenly, ensuring they bake faster and more uniformly.

Baked French Toast
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 loaf French bread
- 8 large eggs
- 2 cups milk
- 0.5 cup heavy cream
- 0.75 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
- 0.5 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 0.25 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 0.25 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 cup brown sugar
- 0.5 cup chopped pecans
- 0.25 cup unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Slice the French bread into 1-inch thick slices and arrange in a greased baking dish.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, heavy cream, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
- Pour the egg mixture over the bread slices, making sure they are well coated. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
- In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar, chopped pecans, and melted butter. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the soaked bread.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the custard is set.
- Let it cool for a few minutes before serving.
Nutritional Value
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